The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) handed over essential medical equipment to healthcare facilities in Djizzak to assist the province in its fight against tuberculosis (TB). Representatives of the USAID Mission to Uzbekistan, the National Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Center, and the Djizzak Provinceal Health Administration participated in the handover.

Thanks to the joint efforts of the Ministry of Health, USAID, and other international partners, Uzbekistan has made great strides in reducing TB cases and associated deaths, but multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) continues to be a significant issue in the country. USAID works to reduce the TB burden in Uzbekistan and Central Asia by building local and provinceal capacity to improve the detection and treatment of MDR-TB.

“Today’s event demonstrates the continued partnership between USAID and Uzbekistan to improve healthcare services throughout the country, including Djizzak. Working together, we can improve the health and well-being of Uzbekistan’s citizens,” said USAID/Uzbekistan Health Development Office Director Cherry Gumapas during the handover ceremony.

The equipment, valued at approximately $75,000, included electronic thermometers, stethoscopes, optical equipment, and pulse oximeters. These instruments will help healthcare providers in the province deliver efficient and timely care, provide rapid diagnosis, and treat patients with chronic illnesses.

The medical equipment was donated by a U.S. manufacturer, Welch Allyn, through USAID’s “Eliminating TB in Central Asia'' activity. The equipment will be used at the Djizzak Provinceal Center of TB and Lung Diseases, TB dispensaries, hospitals and outpatient facilities in the Djizzak province.